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Ironman Barcelona 2017 – Race Report

After 30 weeks of training, race day finally arrived. By way of a diary and some “interesting” statistics – here is the race report. Hopefully this serves as inspiration to the brave band of warriors preparing to enter in 2018. Huge thanks to everyone at the club for their support.

Date/Time and Comments
6 March …… 30 week training plan commences.
7 March ……Regretting 30 week training plan.
14 May ……70.3 Montenegro – great race but need new bike bits.
15 May – 28 May…… Research and buy new bike bits.
27 June…… 10k PB – running going well.
28 August ……1000 bike miles in 28 days. Whose stupid idea was that?
3 September ……C2C in one day with John Mc.
10 September ……Half marathon PB.
16 September ……5k PB – wish I was only doing a run in Barcelona.
29 September ……Have convinced myself there’s no way I’m ready to race an Ironman.
30 September ……08:34 Race day starts.
09:20 ……Feeling sick – ready to get out of water and give up.
09:30 ……Why is my swimming so bad? This is going to be hopelessly slow.
09:50 ……Swim done – wasn’t that slow after all – game on!
10:00 ……Out on the bike feeling great. It’s not windy but the course is very draughty (see what I did there eh?).

11:35 ……Lose my tool bag – do I go back or risk 80 miles without it? Decide to risk it.
12:04 ……Going so well on the bike that a lovely man on a motorbike tells me I’ve been randomly selected for a special 5 minute rest in the shade to chill and eat something (aka a drafting penalty – I will protest my innocence until my dying day!).
15:30 ……Another successful transition – that’s 2 in one race whoop whoop.

17:00 ……Feeling great – all that run training and core work is really paying off.
17:01 ……I HATE RUNNING! – RUNNING IS A STUPID, POINTLESS ACTIVITY.
17:45 ……Ah walking, walking is nice, walking is my friend.
Who cares anymore? ……Just run for 2 minutes then you can reward yourself with a nice walk or maybe a little nap?
Still don’t care ……Ironman events are stupid and pointless. Next year I’m doing the Go-Tris.
19:50 ……The finish line! Or is it a terrible dream?
19:54 ……It is the finish line – now make it look like you’ve run the whole thing and thoroughly enjoyed it.
19:55 ……All that for a medal with the wrong date on it!
20:00 – 2100 ……Food, beer and massage. (Meanwhile Sarah is outside the tent assuming I’ve died and she has no food, beer or massage)
22:00 ……More beer and food.
22:15 ……Tell Sarah I’m not doing it again next year for definite.
1 October 10:00 ……Enter IM Barcelona 2018.